Procedure and device for the accelerated filling of sacks

ABSTRACT

Device for filling sacks ( 1 ), comprising at least one filler material metering device ( 2 ), a feeding hopper ( 3 ) and a sealing tab folder ( 5 ), wherein  
     The feeding hopper ( 3 ) and sealing tab folder are arranged on a traversing device ( 6 ) that can be moved in the axis of the transport path (A);  
     The feeding hopper ( 3 ) is designed in such a way that it can be loaded by the filler material metering device ( 2 ) at any location on the traversing path;  
     A sack holder ( 4 ) is provided that can be traversed within the axis of the transport path (A), wherein the sack holder ( 4 ) and the feeding hopper ( 3 ) each execute a coordinated movement toward or away from each other.  
     A procedure for the accelerated filling of sacks is also disclosed.

[0001] The invention relates to a procedure and device for theaccelerated filling of sacks, wherein the sack to be filled is situatedon a moveable feeding hopper, which moves the sack in the conveyingdirection during the filling process, wherein a device for folding thesealing tabs of the sack, provided with holders for the open sack, issimultaneously moved in the transport direction of the sack, and takesthe sack together with a sack holder at the meeting point. The feedinghopper and sealing tab folder along with the sack holder are then movedapart in the respectively opposite direction, the sealing tabs of thesack are folded and the sack is sealed.

[0002] Sack filling devices according to prior art usually encompass ametering device with stationary feeding hopper. Carousels with rotatingfeeding hoppers are also known. The filling devices according to priorart share in common that the sack sealing tab folders are each arrangedon the filler neck of the feeding hopper. As a result of this design,the sack remains under the feeding hopper after filled until the sealingtabs of the sack have been folded and the sack with folded sealing tabsis transferred to a device for sealing, bonding or the like. Ifnecessary, the time for which the sack is kept under the feeding hopperis decreased if the sack is already sealed at that location.

[0003] The filling devices according to prior art share in common thatthe sack capacity rate per hour is limited by the fact that the sealingtabs cannot be folded under the filler neck of the feeding hopper forthe next filling cycle. Another limitation of filling capacity stemsfrom the fact that the sack to be filled remains stationary during thefilling process, and only moves after the filling process is completed.In particular in high-performance filling machines, this results inconsiderable losses of time owing to the time it takes to transport thesack out of the area of the filler neck and release the filler neck forthe next sack to be filled.

[0004] The output of high-performance filling machines is currentlylimited to about 1,300 sacks per hour by the aforementioneddisadvantages in prior art.

[0005] The object of this invention is to provide a high-performancefilling machine for sacks and a procedure for the accelerated filling ofsacks in which the sacks can be filled at a higher filling capacity perhour. Another object is to provide a procedure and device that ensurefilling reliability with respect to the respective quantity to be filledand filling operation without malfunctions.

[0006] The objects are achieved according to the technical features ofthe independent claims. Preferred embodiments are described in thesubclaims. Additional advantages to the present invention will beillustrated in the description below.

[0007] The present invention proceeds from a known sack-filling devicecomprising a filler material-metering device, a feeding hopper withfiller neck and devices for folding and sealing the sealing tab of thesack to be filled.

[0008] All known and conventional metering devices for filler materialscan be used as the filler material-metering device within the scope ofthe present invention. Metering can be volumetric or gravimetric,depending on the required application and the filler material. However,the invention is not limited to this.

[0009] Sealing sack within the scope of the present invention refers toany form of tightly sealing the sack, e.g., bonding, welding, sewing,etc.

[0010] This invention is based on the trick of decoupling the devicesfor folding the sealing tabs from the filler necks of the feedinghopper, and also making the feeding hopper and separate sealing tabfolder moveable in the transport direction of the sack. This trickdistinctly increases the sack filling capacity in comparison to priorart, since the time for which the sack stays under the feeding hopper isreduced. In addition, the time necessary for moving the sack outside thearea under the filler neck is decreased. Filling capacities of 1,500sacks per hours can be easily realized with the device according to theinvention.

[0011] In its most general embodiment, the device has a feeding hopperarranged under the metering device, wherein the feeding hopper can bemoved in the direction of the transport path of the fillable or filledsack. The feeding hopper is designed in such a way that it can be loadedby the metering device over the entire range of its motion. The sealingtab folding device is independent of the feeding hopper, and alsomovable in the transport direction of the fillable or filled sack,wherein the sealing tab folder and feeding hopper are movedsynchronously.

[0012] In its initial setting, the feeding hopper is provided with thesack to be filled, and held by clamps arranged at the lower end of thefiller neck of the feeding hopper. After the empty sack has been lockedin place, filling begins via the metered dispensing of filler materialfrom the metering device, which releases the filler material in thefeeding hopper. The feeding hopper with the sack on it is moved in thetransport direction of the sack during the filling process already. Atthe same time, a separate sack holder moves toward the feeding hopper inthe transport axis of the sack. If the positions of the separate sackholder and feeder hopper provided with the now-filled sack are in alocation that enables the transfer of the sack from the feeding hopperto the sack holder, the movements are stopped, and the filled sack istransferred. The filler necks and separate sack holder then change theirdirection of movement, moving away from each other. Therefore, thefeeding hopper and separate sack holder execute an oscillating orreciprocating motion over time.

[0013] The respective traversed path preferably measures about half thewidth of a sack, which combines to an entire width of a sack based onthe additional traversed paths of the feeding hopper and separate sackholder. If necessary, the traversed path can be lengthened by thepercentage necessary to make room for the respective holders and foldersto engage.

[0014] After running through one cycle, i.e., after reaching the initialposition of the feeding hopper, sufficient space is created below thefiller neck to attach the next sack.

[0015] Provided the sack holder and feeding hopper have reached therespective initial position, the filler neck of the feeding hopper isprovided with a new sack to be filled. At the same time, a sealing tabfolder engages, taking over the filled, open sack from the separate sackholder, and folding the open sealing tabs of the sack. The sealing tabfolder can be designed as a knife folder.

[0016] The sealing tab folder moves coordinated with and at a constantdistance from the feeding hopper. The sealing tab folder can be arrangedon the conveyor, e.g., a drivable sled that carries the feeding hopper.The distance between the sealing tab folder and feeding hopper neck canmeasure roughly one sack width, if necessary expanded by the spacerequired for the clamps of the filler neck and sealing tab folder toengage.

[0017] The sealing tab folder can also be provided with a sealing deviceto seal the filled sack after its sealing tabs have been folded. Thesealing device can be designed as a welding device, for example.

[0018] In the next basic cycle, i.e., with the next reciprocating motionof the feeding hopper, the sealing tab folder is also moved in thetransport direction of the sack, and hence the filled and sealed sacklocated therein. In another embodiment, the sealing tabs can already befolded during the forward motion in the transport direction. Likewise,the folded flap can be sealed in a separate sealing device.

[0019] After the oscillating motion has reached the final position,i.e., relative to the initial position, the sack holder relays thefilled sack to another transporting device, e.g., a conveying belt.

[0020] Other advantages to this invention shall be described below basedon the figures.

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of this invention in which thefeeding hopper and sealing tab folder are arranged on a traversingdevice, and both the traversing device and separate sack holder arelocated in the initial position of the first filling cycle.

[0022]FIG. 2 shows the same embodiment in which the sack is conveyedfrom the feeding hopper neck to the separate sack holder, i.e., in thesecond final position of the reciprocating motion.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a truncated view according to FIG. 1 and a diagrammaticview of the respective engaging points of the devices involved.

[0025]FIG. 1 shows a filler 1 according to the invention, comprising themetering device 2 and the feeding hopper 3 located underneath. Thefeeding hopper 3 is secured to the traversing device 6, which is poweredby the motor drive 7 and controlled by the control module 12. In theembodiment shown, the sealing tab folder 5 is also secured to thetraversing device 6. The filler neck 9 of the feeding hopper 3 thereforeexhibits a constant distance to the sealing tab folder 5. The distancepreferably measures about one width of a sack to be filled.

[0026] The inlet side of the feeding hopper 3 is designed in such a wayas to enable loading of the feeding hopper at any point during theprocedure. Knife folders 11 are allocated to the sealing tab folder 5,shown in truncated fashion for reasons of clarity.

[0027] The figure also shows the separate sack holder 4 with theallocated gripping devices 4 a. For reasons of clarity, the connectingbraces to the gripping devices 4 a are also not shown.

[0028] Sacks 8 are situated on the filler neck 9, the sealing tab folder5 and the conveying belt 10. Arrow A denotes the transport direction ofthe sacks that are to be filled or have already been filled.

[0029]FIG. 2 shows the embodiment according to the invention shown onFIG. 1, wherein the feeding hopper 3 and separate sack holder 4 are intheir second final position. The same reference numbers denote the sametechnical features. In the second final position, the grippers 4 a ofthe sack holder 4 grip the sack 8, which is located on the filler neck9, and held there with separate clamps. The clamps of the filler neck 9are released to transfer the filed sack, the sack holder 4 is lowered toopen the traversing path for the filler neck 9, and simultaneously moveit into the initial position shown on FIG. 1.

[0030]FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment according to the inventionshown on FIG. 1 and 2. The left side of the figure shows the sack 8located on the filler neck 9 of the feeding hopper 3, held by the clamps13 situated on the feeding hopper. The right side of the figure showsthe device in the final position, wherein the grippers 4 a of the sackholder 4 grip and take the sack, only to subsequently lower it and feedit to the sealing tab folder.

[0031] The upper section of FIG. 4 shows a truncated view according toFIG. 1. This is followed below by views of the individual steps oroperations of the device according to this invention.

[0032]FIG. 4 (1) shows the device according to the invention orprocedure according to the invention in the initial position of thefirst filling cycle. The dashed lines X and XI here show the initialposition of the feeding hopper 9 and the sealing tab folder 5. Thedashed line Y shows the final position of the feeding hopper 9.

[0033] In view (1), the feeding hopper neck 9 is provided with the sack8. The conveyance of empty sacks is not shown. The sealing tab folder 5with accompanying knife folders 11 is also located in initial positionX1.

[0034] Moving to FIG. 4 (2), the filler neck 9 is moved into its finalposition Y, which is simultaneously the transfer position, wherein thesack 8 is filled during the movement process. Once position Y has beenreached, the grippers 4a of the sack holder 4 (not shown) grip the nowfilled sack 8.

[0035] Moving to FIG. 4 (3 a), the filler neck 9 is moved to its firstposition X, wherein the sealing tab folder 5 with the accompanying knifefolders 11 is moved into the first final position X1. The open andfilled sack 8 is moved by the sack holder 4, held by grippers 4 a, fromthe transfer position Y into the first position X1, as a result of whichthe sealing tab folder 5 can interact with the open sack end to befolded.

[0036] Moving to FIG. 4 (3 b), the filler neck 9 and sealing tab folder5 are located in the first end position X, or X1. The filler neck 9 isprovided with a second sack 8 to be filled, while the sealing tab folder5 simultaneously folds the sealing tabs of the open, filled sack 8. Thesack here continues to be held by the holders 4 a of the sack holder 4.

[0037] Moving to FIG. 4 (4), the filler neck 9 is provided with the sack8 and moved into position Y while engaged with the grippers 4 a as shownon FIG. 4 (2). The left part of the figure shows the first sack 8 of thefirst cycle, whose sealing tabs are folded under exposure to the knifefolders 11 of the sealing tab folder 5. As an option, the sealing tabscan already be sealed during this step.

[0038] Moving to FIG. 4 (5), the next step is shown, corresponding tostep (3 a), wherein the sack 8 of the second cycle is located in thefirst final position X1, and the filled sack provided with foldedsealing tabs or sealed exits the first cycle of the device.

1. A procedure for the accelerated filling of sacks, comprising thefollowing steps: Arranging the sack (8) to be filled on the filler necks(9) of a feeding hopper (3); Metering the filler material into a fillermaterial metering device (2) and filling the sack (8) with the fillermaterial; Folding in the sealing tabs of the sack (8) and sealing thesack; characterized by the fact that the filler neck (3) is moved withthe attached sack (8) in the transport direction (A) during the fillingprocess; a sack holder (4) is simultaneously moved against the transportdirection (A) toward the sack (8); the sack is taken by the sack holder(4) where the oppositely moving sack holder (4) and feeding hopper (3)meet; the sack holder (4) and feeding hopper (3) are moved to theinitial position in the respectively opposite direction.
 2. Theprocedure according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that, afterthe sack holder (4) and feeding hopper (3) have been moved away fromeach other, a sealing tab folder (5) folds the sealing tabs of the sack(8).
 3. The procedure according to claim 2, characterized by the factthat the sealing tab folder (5) moves synchronously with the feedinghopper (3).
 4. The procedure according to claim 3, characterized by thefact that the sealing tab folder (5) and filler neck (9) of the feedinghopper (3) are spaced apart by roughly the width of the sack to befilled.
 5. The procedure according to one of the preceding claims,characterized by the fact that the sealing tab folder (5) further sealsthe folded sealing tabs.
 6. The procedure according to one of thepreceding claims, characterized by the fact that the sealing tab folder(5) transfers the sack (8) with folded sealing tabs to a sealing device.7. The procedure according to one of the preceding claims, characterizedby the fact that the path traversed by the sack holder (4) and feedinghopper (3) measures roughly half the width of the sack (5) to be filled.8. A device for filling sacks (1), each comprising at least one fillermaterial metering device (2), a feeding hopper (3) and a sealing tabfolder (5), characterized by the fact that The feeding hopper (3) andsealing tab folder are arranged on a traversing device (6) that can bemoved in the axis of the transport path (A); The feeding hopper (3) isdesigned in such a way that it can be loaded by the filler materialmetering device (2) at any location on the traversing path; A sackholder (4) is provided that can be traversed within the axis of thetransport path (A), wherein the sack holder (4) and the feeding hopper(3) each execute a coordinated movement toward or away from each other.9. The device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that thepath traversed by the sack holder (4) and feeding hopper (3) measuresroughly half the width of the sack (8) to be filled.
 10. The deviceaccording to claim 8 or 9, characterized by the fact that the sealingtab folder (5) is spaced roughly one width of the sack (8) to be filledaway from the feeding hopper neck (9).
 11. The device according to oneof claims 8 to 10, characterized by the fact that the sealing tab folder(5) is also provided with a sealing device to seal the sack.